In this age, marine leisure counted as one of the most dangerous forms of recreation. Even in the past, the sea had always carried countless dangers—jellyfish, sharks, tsunamis, rip currents. Truly, one could say there had never been a time when the sea was entirely safe. Precisely because of that, people had always enjoyed marine leisure with the utmost care.
But the dangers of today went far beyond sharks—now it was aquatic monsters such as mermen that posed the threat. Casting nets offered no protection whatsoever against such creatures. Aside from fishermen, there were few bold enough to face them directly. Still, the culture of water play was something everyone wished to preserve. All the better if it could be enjoyed in an environment “like the sea.”
And so, in answer to that demand, indoor all-weather pool resorts had taken root as a major industry. Across the nation, vast and elaborate facilities were built, complete with wave pools and other attractions that felt surprisingly close to the real thing. For the current generation, “swimming” now meant going to such large-scale leisure pools. While somewhat pricey, they had become a mainstream pastime.
“So, yeah. This Hoshino Aqua Land’s one of those places.”
“Oooh. ’Tis indeed grand.”
Hoshino Aqua Land, built in Ogikubo, Suginami Ward, had been the brainchild of its founder, Mr. Hoshino, who wanted to “bring light back to his hometown” after monster disasters had left the area in ruins. The gamble paid off spectacularly—Ogikubo now thrived more than ever.
Recently renovated, the facility was sparkling clean, and special tickets had been distributed to select partners and associates. One of those had made its way into Hikaru’s hands.
Wave pools, lazy rivers, water slides—Hoshino Aqua Land had it all, and remained firmly ranked among the nation’s top leisure facilities.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“Mm, mm. Let us.”
Hikaru wore a jacket and jeans—casual and easy to move in. Inari, dressed similarly but in a different color scheme, nodded. Naturally, Inari’s outfit was her shrine maiden garb transformed once again, giving the two of them an almost matching-pair look.
Since it was a weekday, the crowds weren’t bad, and the special ticket made entry smooth and easy. For the record, Atsuage was left at home today.
“Ohh… what a splendid place.”
“It’s my first time here too, but wow.”
Inside, the atmosphere gave off a tropical vibe. Bright lighting, well-tended ornamental plants, shops selling swimsuits and float rings blending seamlessly as part of the decor. Some people sat on lounge chairs sipping colorful drinks.
Glancing at the swimsuits on display, Hikaru cast a slightly worried look toward Inari.
“…Come to think of it, you said you’d be fine with swimwear.”
“Mm. I shall use the usual.”
Saying so, Inari tapped her clothing lightly. Her shrine maiden attire could transform however she wished—even into swimwear. Forgetting her swimsuit was never a problem. Of course, what Hikaru was worried about wasn’t that.
“The design. Think you’ll be alright?”
“Fufun, leave it to me. I have knowledge of such things.”
“…Do you really, though?”
Muttering under her breath, Hikaru wasn’t exactly convinced of Inari’s fashion sense.
But surprisingly enough—in fact, quite the opposite of her expectations—Inari manifested a perfectly proper swimsuit.
Where Hikaru’s was sporty black with a small lion emblem, Inari’s was adorably styled. A bib top paired with board shorts, designed in red and white to resemble her shrine maiden colors. It highlighted her “Inari-ness” all the more.
Her hair was neatly tied short as well—a trick she had picked up from the time Eri had played around styling it.
“Whoa… that’s awesome. Who picked that design?”
“So little thou dost believe it to be me…”
“Wait, it was you, Inari?”
“Indeed.”
“…Unexpected.”
“Why…?”
Inari had lived in the modern age long enough to update her knowledge, at least somewhat. There were still gaps, of course—hence Hikaru’s skepticism. And truthfully, the design was a rather old one… but perhaps fashion truly was a cycle.
“Alright then, let’s play!”
“Mm! Though first, warm-up exercises.”
“Ah, right.”
And so, after some proper stretching, they dashed straight toward—the wave pool, of course!
With some clever mechanism, waves surged just like in the real ocean. Though the scent of chlorine lingered, the tropical decor created a festive mood that made excitement bubble up.
“Yeeaahhh!”
“Now, now, take care not to trip in thy haste.”
Watching Hikaru charge gleefully into the pool, Inari followed with a smile.
Waves crashed over them, pulling them along. Rather than resist, they let themselves drift. Hugging a rental float ring, Hikaru eyed Inari’s tail with curiosity.
“Come to think of it, that tail of yours… how come it doesn’t shed fur or anything?”
“Who can say… not even I know.”
Inari’s fox ears and tail might look like those of a normal fox, but they weren’t. No loose fur, no shedding. Even when a child had tugged at it once, it hadn’t come out.
So, even here at a pool, her tails posed no problem whatsoever. That was simply how it was.